This week I decided to go back to the boot camp classes I did last year. I had been going fairly regularly until August, and then let my membership lapse. But a great price on a New Year's deal along with a strong desire to make this THE year I get it right led me to sign up again. After all, I had great results last year and I already feel comfortable with the routine of that gym.
I expected to be a little out of practice. I knew that having a few months off would mean I couldn't perform the way I did when I was going to classes regularly. But I also was confident that it couldn't be all that bad - my weight is still as low as when I stopped going, so there's no way it could be as hard as when I started at the beginning of last year and was 14 pounds heavier.
Ha.
Ha ha ha.
I had my first boot camp class last night. The results were embarrassing. I started off fine with the rest of the class, staying in time with everyone as the music shook the room and the trainer barked out instructions. Five minutes in, I felt a little winded, but took a few deep breaths and pushed past it. Ten minutes in and I needed my first sip of Gatorade.
I quickly realized I was having trouble. Twenty minutes in, I felt weak, I could barely catch my breath, and my stomach was queasy. I finally sat down on the step for a moment. The trainer (someone I worked with a lot last year), just smiled and said, "You're fine - you're just getting back into it!" I didn't feel fine, particularly when the others in the class weren't stopping while I was parked on my step.
Finishing one small bottle of Gatorade, I stood up and was determined to still finish the class. I got back into the routine with everyone, but that sick feeling wouldn't go away. I had to take another short break near the end of class. I don't think I took a single break during my first class last year.
When it was over, I remained in the room for a few minutes extra, willing myself not to vomit while making deals with my legs to just get me to the lobby and then I'd let them rest again. In the lobby, I sat for another 15 minutes. Anytime I tried to get up, I felt lightheaded and queasy. I eventually got the strength to get up and go home.
So...yeah. Never expected the first class would be such a failure. I expected my body would be a little rusty with the whole boot camp regimen, but had hoped it might soon remember all it had accomplished just a short time ago. So much for that muscle memory theory.
I'm discouraged, but not defeated. Yes, I expected my first class to go better than that, but I still went to class and did as much as I could. Maybe I'll be able to do a little more the next class. And a little more the next one.
No pain, no gain, right?
Edited to add: And then I realized after writing this that I had a sore throat. Turns out I have strep throat and an ear infection. So maybe I'm not quite as weak as I thought, but just fighting off illness.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Stupid Food Habits
Most people don't usually go to Facebook for intellectual stimulation, but I have such smart friends that I often find myself clicking on stories to learn more. For example, with a title like The 5 Stupidest Habits You Develop Growing Up Poor, I figured there was a good chance this article would either make me laugh or make me examine my own habits carefully. Turns out, it was both.
(Go read the article now. Watch out for some strong language, if you're sensitive to that. And don't forget to come back!)
The very first subject in the article is that when you're poor you develop a taste for poor quality food. Wait...how did I not make that connection? I'm shocked that it never occurred to me that maybe the reason I crave junk so much is because I simply never knew differently as a child. *mind exploding*
I should start by saying that I didn't grow up extremely poor. I was raised by a single mom who worked endlessly to support me. We never used food stamps, but her small salary and smaller child support payments did result in some lean times in the early years.
My mom shopped for groceries every two weeks, and we rarely had anything fresh in the house, other than fresh bread from the bakery across the street, milk and the occasional bunch of grapes when they were in season. Most food we bought was made to last, so if we didn't get to it this week, well, there'd be no chance of it spoiling after a week. Or a year. When my mom had enough energy to make a meal after work, it was often a huge pot of spaghetti with jarred sauce (that would serve as several re-heated meals also), or the ever-so-reliable-and-cheap Kraft Mac 'n Cheese.
It's true: I do not like homemade mac 'n cheese. But give me that neon orange boxed stuff and I'll be back for seconds! Why? It's not like powdered cheese product is superior in taste and quality to real melted cheese, right? But when it's the only thing you had growing up, you do expect that flavor to be the "right" flavor.
Nearly everything we ate was frozen, boxed or canned. As I got older and could stay home more at night, she shifted to working nights more often and I became great friends with the microwave. Frozen personal pizzas were an easy, cheap staple. And that leftover spaghetti was an easy microwave re-heat, too. Seems like the only vegetables I ate were in a jar of Preggo sauce, unless you count the corn in the Doritos tortilla chips.
It's no wonder I got fat - a diet made up of 90% processed junk filled with preservatives, fat and salt is enough to send anyone to the plus-size department! I can't place blame on my mom - she worked over 40 hours each week, always picking up overtime when she could, and just didn't have the money, time, or energy to cook from scratch or teach me to cook.
So we relied on cheap processed foods to get by, and as a result my taste buds learned that this was the way food was supposed to look and taste. The more subtle, complex flavors and textures of real food were foreign to me, and so when presented with them I usually turned my nose up. (Yes, I was that stubborn child who ate just stuffing at Thanksgiving meals - and only because it came from a box!)
Learning to eat right in order to lose weight has been an incredible challenge, and I can't say I've won. I have learned to appreciate and enjoy real food, but the desire for junk is a strong one imprinted on my brain from years of Doritos binges and microwave dinners. It's not something I can rid myself of just by trying new foods and deciding that they do taste good.
Growing up poor did leave me with a stupid habit I want to break, and in some ways I think this habit is even harder than losing weight. Yes, you read that right: even harder. My weight loss is, in many ways, tied to those cravings for salty, fried foods, and if I can't keep control of that hunger I'll be right back where I started. I don't think it's possible to completely eliminate the habits from childhood, so what's the solution?
Well, I'm no expert, but this is what I've done so far:
1. Try new real foods as often as possible, and make sure they're prepared well for your first experience. The idea of hummus sounded disgusting to me for a long time, but then we visited a local Mediterranean restaurant where friends told me how amazing their hummus was. So I tried it. And I liked it. Which made me want to try it again.
I've since found some really good and really bad hummus elsewhere, but that first taste of high-quality hummus kept me coming back for more. If you're not sure what the best preparation of a food is, get recommendations from others before trying it. I've grown to love green peppers, fresh salads, eggs, Indian and Chinese food, and more all because I had a good first experience with them.
2. Prepare old favorites in new ways. This means making macaroni and cheese with real cheese, steaming fresh green beans instead of opening a can, and peeling and eating an orange instead of pre-packaged orange slices soaked in heavy syrup. It means trying out fresh meats instead of processed lunchmeats, and maybe even seeking out foods grown locally to see what fresh really tastes like. Even substituting low sodium, low fat frozen meals in place of the more processed frozen meals is progress. Trust me, your taste buds will rebel, but keep at it and you'll develop an appreciation for the new flavors.
3. Don't go cold turkey on your old favorites. Unless you have superhuman willpower, you will be tempted by your cravings. And for many of us (ahem...me), the longer you deny the craving, the bigger the binge. So incorporate small treats into your week. Grab a fast food hamburger for lunch one day. Eat a frozen pizza now and then. Treat yourself to a bomb pop at the zoo on a hot summer day.
Yes, diet experts will probably tell you this is the wrong approach, but I'm telling you I've lost 80 pounds and still enjoy a Krispy Kreme now and again without any shame. If you're trying to lose weight, you're already learning moderation thru portion sizes. Well, here's another lesson in moderation - small portions of "bad" foods can keep you feeling happy and fulfilled without wrecking your overall goals. And if you keep making an effort to change your tastes, you may find you don't even need those indulgences after awhile.
4. Don't let your kids start this habit if you can help it. For some of us (raising hand) this is too late. But it doesn't have to continue. We make an effort to have our kids try new foods now, and they both love fresh fruit. Mira hasn't had as many bad habits form, and routinely asks for grilled chicken and broccoli. My hope is that we can undo some of the damage and start good habits that will follow them into adulthood.
Even though I grew up with junk, my own mom went right back to healthy eating when our finances improved. She grew up on a farm with fresh, well, everything. (As in, killed the chicken in the afternoon for dinner that night. That's a little too fresh for me.) She is retired now and uses that extra time to regularly cook fresh foods again, just like she enjoyed as a child. It seems some habits can last a lifetime.
I can't change how I was raised, but I can create parallel good habits and remind myself that I am more than the experiences of my youth. Each day I have the ability to make new choices to determine the "me" of tomorrow, and it's up to me whether those choices are based on who I was or who I want to be. I know which one I prefer.
(Go read the article now. Watch out for some strong language, if you're sensitive to that. And don't forget to come back!)
The very first subject in the article is that when you're poor you develop a taste for poor quality food. Wait...how did I not make that connection? I'm shocked that it never occurred to me that maybe the reason I crave junk so much is because I simply never knew differently as a child. *mind exploding*
I should start by saying that I didn't grow up extremely poor. I was raised by a single mom who worked endlessly to support me. We never used food stamps, but her small salary and smaller child support payments did result in some lean times in the early years.
My mom shopped for groceries every two weeks, and we rarely had anything fresh in the house, other than fresh bread from the bakery across the street, milk and the occasional bunch of grapes when they were in season. Most food we bought was made to last, so if we didn't get to it this week, well, there'd be no chance of it spoiling after a week. Or a year. When my mom had enough energy to make a meal after work, it was often a huge pot of spaghetti with jarred sauce (that would serve as several re-heated meals also), or the ever-so-reliable-and-cheap Kraft Mac 'n Cheese.
It's true: I do not like homemade mac 'n cheese. But give me that neon orange boxed stuff and I'll be back for seconds! Why? It's not like powdered cheese product is superior in taste and quality to real melted cheese, right? But when it's the only thing you had growing up, you do expect that flavor to be the "right" flavor.
Nearly everything we ate was frozen, boxed or canned. As I got older and could stay home more at night, she shifted to working nights more often and I became great friends with the microwave. Frozen personal pizzas were an easy, cheap staple. And that leftover spaghetti was an easy microwave re-heat, too. Seems like the only vegetables I ate were in a jar of Preggo sauce, unless you count the corn in the Doritos tortilla chips.
It's no wonder I got fat - a diet made up of 90% processed junk filled with preservatives, fat and salt is enough to send anyone to the plus-size department! I can't place blame on my mom - she worked over 40 hours each week, always picking up overtime when she could, and just didn't have the money, time, or energy to cook from scratch or teach me to cook.
So we relied on cheap processed foods to get by, and as a result my taste buds learned that this was the way food was supposed to look and taste. The more subtle, complex flavors and textures of real food were foreign to me, and so when presented with them I usually turned my nose up. (Yes, I was that stubborn child who ate just stuffing at Thanksgiving meals - and only because it came from a box!)
Learning to eat right in order to lose weight has been an incredible challenge, and I can't say I've won. I have learned to appreciate and enjoy real food, but the desire for junk is a strong one imprinted on my brain from years of Doritos binges and microwave dinners. It's not something I can rid myself of just by trying new foods and deciding that they do taste good.
Growing up poor did leave me with a stupid habit I want to break, and in some ways I think this habit is even harder than losing weight. Yes, you read that right: even harder. My weight loss is, in many ways, tied to those cravings for salty, fried foods, and if I can't keep control of that hunger I'll be right back where I started. I don't think it's possible to completely eliminate the habits from childhood, so what's the solution?
Well, I'm no expert, but this is what I've done so far:
1. Try new real foods as often as possible, and make sure they're prepared well for your first experience. The idea of hummus sounded disgusting to me for a long time, but then we visited a local Mediterranean restaurant where friends told me how amazing their hummus was. So I tried it. And I liked it. Which made me want to try it again.
I've since found some really good and really bad hummus elsewhere, but that first taste of high-quality hummus kept me coming back for more. If you're not sure what the best preparation of a food is, get recommendations from others before trying it. I've grown to love green peppers, fresh salads, eggs, Indian and Chinese food, and more all because I had a good first experience with them.
2. Prepare old favorites in new ways. This means making macaroni and cheese with real cheese, steaming fresh green beans instead of opening a can, and peeling and eating an orange instead of pre-packaged orange slices soaked in heavy syrup. It means trying out fresh meats instead of processed lunchmeats, and maybe even seeking out foods grown locally to see what fresh really tastes like. Even substituting low sodium, low fat frozen meals in place of the more processed frozen meals is progress. Trust me, your taste buds will rebel, but keep at it and you'll develop an appreciation for the new flavors.
3. Don't go cold turkey on your old favorites. Unless you have superhuman willpower, you will be tempted by your cravings. And for many of us (ahem...me), the longer you deny the craving, the bigger the binge. So incorporate small treats into your week. Grab a fast food hamburger for lunch one day. Eat a frozen pizza now and then. Treat yourself to a bomb pop at the zoo on a hot summer day.
Yes, diet experts will probably tell you this is the wrong approach, but I'm telling you I've lost 80 pounds and still enjoy a Krispy Kreme now and again without any shame. If you're trying to lose weight, you're already learning moderation thru portion sizes. Well, here's another lesson in moderation - small portions of "bad" foods can keep you feeling happy and fulfilled without wrecking your overall goals. And if you keep making an effort to change your tastes, you may find you don't even need those indulgences after awhile.
4. Don't let your kids start this habit if you can help it. For some of us (raising hand) this is too late. But it doesn't have to continue. We make an effort to have our kids try new foods now, and they both love fresh fruit. Mira hasn't had as many bad habits form, and routinely asks for grilled chicken and broccoli. My hope is that we can undo some of the damage and start good habits that will follow them into adulthood.
Even though I grew up with junk, my own mom went right back to healthy eating when our finances improved. She grew up on a farm with fresh, well, everything. (As in, killed the chicken in the afternoon for dinner that night. That's a little too fresh for me.) She is retired now and uses that extra time to regularly cook fresh foods again, just like she enjoyed as a child. It seems some habits can last a lifetime.
I can't change how I was raised, but I can create parallel good habits and remind myself that I am more than the experiences of my youth. Each day I have the ability to make new choices to determine the "me" of tomorrow, and it's up to me whether those choices are based on who I was or who I want to be. I know which one I prefer.
Friday, January 20, 2012
My Day In NYC For the Slim-Fast Studio WOW! Experience
On Tuesday, I had the whirlwind trip of a lifetime: fly to New York, meet with the Slim-Fast team and five amazing experts in nutrition, food, fashion, beauty and photography, and then fly back to Columbus, all in the same day. Sounds crazy, right? It was. But it was a fantastic kind of crazy.
I was a little nervous when leaving that morning. Not because of the event, but because the weather was stormy and windy. Once we were above the clouds, though? Gorgeous.
When I reached NYC, I was taken from the airport to the heart of Manhattan to the Slim-Fast Studio Wow! penthouse. This place was beautiful, decorated with lots of white and red, and stations for each of the team of experts to work and talk.
Who are these "experts" you may wonder? Well, I'm glad you asked. Meet the superheroes I like to call Team Studio Wow!:
I was the first blogger to arrive, so I relaxed on a couch and chatted with the Slim-Fast team until the others arrived. There are ten Women of Wow bloggers, but only five could make it to the event. Once we were all assembled, we were taken to lunch at Bryant Park Grill.
Once we returned to Studio Wow!, it was time for the magic to begin. One-by-one we met with each of the experts to ask questions and get advice to make 2012 our year of wow. I first met with Ali, the Registered Dietitian for Slim-Fast. We discussed proper nutrition and how Slim-Fast can make it easy to get the nutrients you need each day, even when you're on-the-go.
Next I met with Robin, who introduced me to some of her incredible 500-calorie or less meals. She discussed how to use simple spices and flavorings to make low-calorie meals anything but boring. Even though we had just come back from lunch, I didn't hesitate to sample every item she had! I plan to share at least a few of the recipes here in the following weeks - yum!
After Robin I met with Jacqui to discuss fashion. When she started the conversation asking me what questions I might have for her regarding fashion, I immediately joked that I wouldn't even know where to start because I'm really a jeans-and-t-shirt kind of women. We then started discussing accessories - a foreign topic to me - and how to use them to accent any outfit. Other than my wedding ring, I'm generally accessory free, so I didn't know where to begin.
Jacqui demonstrated different ways to wear a scarf, which felt completely silly to me but she assured me looked fantastic. I guess it takes some getting used to? I vowed to her that I would make an effort to include more accessories into my wardrobe in the months ahead.(And Jacqui gave me a lovely scarf to get me started!)
Joey was up next, and before my butt even hit the seat he was already running his hands through my hair and making decisions on how to make my hair look glamorous. I confess that I barely remember this part because it was a frenzy of activity - he danced around my chair with a large barrel curling iron while a lovely woman (name I can't remember - sorry!) ducked his hot iron to touch up my makeup and create a smoky eye look that I've never been able to master. I have to admit - I looked really good.
Before the mascara was even dry, I was then escorted to my final stop: a photo session with Nigel Barker. Suddenly I was nervous: I have a lot of trouble looking natural when the camera, and the focus, is on me. Nigel is a famous photographer, and I didn't want to be the one utter failure in his portfolio! We chatted at first about my blog, how much weight I've already lost, and my experience in raising a daughter with autism. He has a niece with autism, and we quickly fell into a discussion about the amazing talents of the two autistic girls we know.
His team put on some music (Pink, of course), and I tried to loosen up. Nigel was very patient in directing me on how to look good for the camera, even though I was stressing myself out about doing it correctly. It was a lot of fun, but I still worry that my photos will have the forced smile I get when I'm worried about looking good. We'll see, right? (And another goal for this year - learn to relax when I'm in front of the camera.)
As if that wasn't enough, they encouraged me to take all of the Slim-Fast bars I could get on the plane! Considering how much I love the bars, I wish I would have brought a bigger bag!
By 4:30pm, I was back in a car on my way to the airport again. The day went by so quickly! Everyone was exceptionally nice, and aside from the pampering I left with a renewed confidence in myself and a commitment to my goals. The Slim-Fast Studio Wow! event showed me that reaching those goals is not only possible, but can be a lot of fun, too.
The Women of Wow tab is now live on the Slim-Fast Facebook page - I'd love it if you'd visit my profile there and give me a little support. Be sure to check out the other Women of Wow, too!
Full disclosure: This post was created in connection with my appointment as an Ambassador in the Slim-Fast Women of WOW! Program. Visit www.facebook.com/slimfast to join the conversation.
I was a little nervous when leaving that morning. Not because of the event, but because the weather was stormy and windy. Once we were above the clouds, though? Gorgeous.
When I reached NYC, I was taken from the airport to the heart of Manhattan to the Slim-Fast Studio Wow! penthouse. This place was beautiful, decorated with lots of white and red, and stations for each of the team of experts to work and talk.
Who are these "experts" you may wonder? Well, I'm glad you asked. Meet the superheroes I like to call Team Studio Wow!:
(That would be Ali Auerbach, Robin Miller, Joey Maalouf, Nigel Barker, and Jacqui Stafford)
I was the first blogger to arrive, so I relaxed on a couch and chatted with the Slim-Fast team until the others arrived. There are ten Women of Wow bloggers, but only five could make it to the event. Once we were all assembled, we were taken to lunch at Bryant Park Grill.
Once we returned to Studio Wow!, it was time for the magic to begin. One-by-one we met with each of the experts to ask questions and get advice to make 2012 our year of wow. I first met with Ali, the Registered Dietitian for Slim-Fast. We discussed proper nutrition and how Slim-Fast can make it easy to get the nutrients you need each day, even when you're on-the-go.
Next I met with Robin, who introduced me to some of her incredible 500-calorie or less meals. She discussed how to use simple spices and flavorings to make low-calorie meals anything but boring. Even though we had just come back from lunch, I didn't hesitate to sample every item she had! I plan to share at least a few of the recipes here in the following weeks - yum!
After Robin I met with Jacqui to discuss fashion. When she started the conversation asking me what questions I might have for her regarding fashion, I immediately joked that I wouldn't even know where to start because I'm really a jeans-and-t-shirt kind of women. We then started discussing accessories - a foreign topic to me - and how to use them to accent any outfit. Other than my wedding ring, I'm generally accessory free, so I didn't know where to begin.
Jacqui demonstrated different ways to wear a scarf, which felt completely silly to me but she assured me looked fantastic. I guess it takes some getting used to? I vowed to her that I would make an effort to include more accessories into my wardrobe in the months ahead.(And Jacqui gave me a lovely scarf to get me started!)
Joey was up next, and before my butt even hit the seat he was already running his hands through my hair and making decisions on how to make my hair look glamorous. I confess that I barely remember this part because it was a frenzy of activity - he danced around my chair with a large barrel curling iron while a lovely woman (name I can't remember - sorry!) ducked his hot iron to touch up my makeup and create a smoky eye look that I've never been able to master. I have to admit - I looked really good.
Before the mascara was even dry, I was then escorted to my final stop: a photo session with Nigel Barker. Suddenly I was nervous: I have a lot of trouble looking natural when the camera, and the focus, is on me. Nigel is a famous photographer, and I didn't want to be the one utter failure in his portfolio! We chatted at first about my blog, how much weight I've already lost, and my experience in raising a daughter with autism. He has a niece with autism, and we quickly fell into a discussion about the amazing talents of the two autistic girls we know.
His team put on some music (Pink, of course), and I tried to loosen up. Nigel was very patient in directing me on how to look good for the camera, even though I was stressing myself out about doing it correctly. It was a lot of fun, but I still worry that my photos will have the forced smile I get when I'm worried about looking good. We'll see, right? (And another goal for this year - learn to relax when I'm in front of the camera.)
As if that wasn't enough, they encouraged me to take all of the Slim-Fast bars I could get on the plane! Considering how much I love the bars, I wish I would have brought a bigger bag!
By 4:30pm, I was back in a car on my way to the airport again. The day went by so quickly! Everyone was exceptionally nice, and aside from the pampering I left with a renewed confidence in myself and a commitment to my goals. The Slim-Fast Studio Wow! event showed me that reaching those goals is not only possible, but can be a lot of fun, too.
The Women of Wow tab is now live on the Slim-Fast Facebook page - I'd love it if you'd visit my profile there and give me a little support. Be sure to check out the other Women of Wow, too!
Full disclosure: This post was created in connection with my appointment as an Ambassador in the Slim-Fast Women of WOW! Program. Visit www.facebook.com/slimfast to join the conversation.
Monday, January 16, 2012
I've Got Exciting News To Share!
I've been sitting on a big secret for weeks, and I'm so excited that I can finally tell everyone about it. As you may know, I did a review for the new Slim-Fast shakes a few months back. I loved the new shakes and the swap from can to plastic bottle, and easily incorporated a Slim-Fast shake or meal bar into my diet when I needed a convenient, on-the-go meal.
So then last month, Slim-Fast contacted me and asked if I'd like to be one of 10 blogger brand ambassadors for Slim-Fast to start the new year. With little hesitation, I said YES!
What does it mean to be a brand ambassador? Well, for the next 3.5 months I get to be one of the Women of WOW! (cool name, no?) sharing my experience with losing weight and getting healthy with the help of Slim-Fast shakes, meal bars and snacks. I'll be posting tips on how to lose weight no matter how hectic your life can be, and providing as much support as I can to anyone else trying to reach their WOW moment.
Slim-Fast is asking everyone to make a Vow to Wow in 2012. What's my vow, you ask? It's simple: all of my adult life, I've been "overweight" and even "obese" by most standards. I've worked very hard to lose most of that weight, and I'm currently about 10 pounds away from being what the medical and insurance industries consider the top of the "normal" weight range. For the first time in my adult life, I'm determined to be at a healthy weight for my next birthday.
I hope you'll all follow along on my journey with me, and join in if you'd like. (Whether you're using Slim-Fast or not - setting and working towards a goal for the year is a fantastic way to improve your health!) I'm starting my journey tomorrow with, well, a real journey to New York City for the Slim-Fast Studio Wow event which will coincide with the launch of the Women of WOW! tab on the Slim-Fast Facebook page. I'll be posting regularly on the Slim-Fast Facebook page, and you'll see some giveaways hosted right here very soon.
I promise this blog won't be all Slim-Fast, all the time - it's still me, and while I love the convenience of the products, there's a lot more that goes into weight loss that I plan to cover as well.
Watch my Twitter and Facebook posts tomorrow for updates of my day in NYC, or follow along on the Slim-Fast Facebook page or the Twitter hashtag #SFStudioWow.
I said at the beginning of January that this was going to be my year to shine, and I feel like I've got all of the tools to make it happen. I hope you'll all support me, and I'd be happy to return the favor in kind.
Full disclosure: This post was created in connection with my appointment as an Ambassador in the Slim-Fast Women of WOW! Program. Visit www.facebook.com/slimfast to join the conversation.
So then last month, Slim-Fast contacted me and asked if I'd like to be one of 10 blogger brand ambassadors for Slim-Fast to start the new year. With little hesitation, I said YES!
What does it mean to be a brand ambassador? Well, for the next 3.5 months I get to be one of the Women of WOW! (cool name, no?) sharing my experience with losing weight and getting healthy with the help of Slim-Fast shakes, meal bars and snacks. I'll be posting tips on how to lose weight no matter how hectic your life can be, and providing as much support as I can to anyone else trying to reach their WOW moment.
(and I got some goodies to get me started...yum!)
Slim-Fast is asking everyone to make a Vow to Wow in 2012. What's my vow, you ask? It's simple: all of my adult life, I've been "overweight" and even "obese" by most standards. I've worked very hard to lose most of that weight, and I'm currently about 10 pounds away from being what the medical and insurance industries consider the top of the "normal" weight range. For the first time in my adult life, I'm determined to be at a healthy weight for my next birthday.
I hope you'll all follow along on my journey with me, and join in if you'd like. (Whether you're using Slim-Fast or not - setting and working towards a goal for the year is a fantastic way to improve your health!) I'm starting my journey tomorrow with, well, a real journey to New York City for the Slim-Fast Studio Wow event which will coincide with the launch of the Women of WOW! tab on the Slim-Fast Facebook page. I'll be posting regularly on the Slim-Fast Facebook page, and you'll see some giveaways hosted right here very soon.
I promise this blog won't be all Slim-Fast, all the time - it's still me, and while I love the convenience of the products, there's a lot more that goes into weight loss that I plan to cover as well.
Watch my Twitter and Facebook posts tomorrow for updates of my day in NYC, or follow along on the Slim-Fast Facebook page or the Twitter hashtag #SFStudioWow.
I said at the beginning of January that this was going to be my year to shine, and I feel like I've got all of the tools to make it happen. I hope you'll all support me, and I'd be happy to return the favor in kind.
Full disclosure: This post was created in connection with my appointment as an Ambassador in the Slim-Fast Women of WOW! Program. Visit www.facebook.com/slimfast to join the conversation.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Let's Do This
Alright, new year, new goal. This is it, 2012 - I've got big plans for you.
I declare that this will be the year I hit my goal weight.
I've steadily lost weight for the past three years, ending each year smaller than the previous one. Since I started tracking my weight again, I've gone from 212 pounds to a low of 166 pounds earlier this year. As is usual with my holiday season hibernation, a few pounds did sneak back on, but they won't be there for long.
A goal weight I've always had in my head is 158 pounds. That's the number provided by the BMI charts as the absolute highest weight I can be for my height and be considered a "healthy" or "normal" weight. I've never aimed for anything lower than that because I've never been anywhere close to it in my adult life. The closest I've come - other than at the moment - was back in 2003, when I was ~170 pounds for my wedding. Even my wedding wasn't enough to get me to that magic number. (Wait - no negative talk here. 170 was still damn impressive considering that five years prior to that I was nearly 250 pounds.)
But this year, 158 is in sight. I know I can get there with a lot of hard work, sweat and willpower. I've come this far already, so I know I have the strength in me to do it.
In 2012, I'm going to make it to 158 pounds and officially be considered normal by BMI standards and insurance charts.
Which is probably the only time in my life I'll ever be considered normal in anything.
I stepped on the scale today, and the current number is 170, which is a number I'm already pleased with. Holiday indulging for the past three months only resulted in a four pound gain from my lowest weight - that's a win in my book. It tells me that the lessons I've learned from years of doing this are taking hold, and even indulging isn't the same as it used to be. I can have a piece of pie - or even two - and not spiral out of control into a free-for-all binge. All Charlie Sheen jokes aside, I'm winning at this.
New year, new me. I'm ready.
I declare that this will be the year I hit my goal weight.
I've steadily lost weight for the past three years, ending each year smaller than the previous one. Since I started tracking my weight again, I've gone from 212 pounds to a low of 166 pounds earlier this year. As is usual with my holiday season hibernation, a few pounds did sneak back on, but they won't be there for long.
A goal weight I've always had in my head is 158 pounds. That's the number provided by the BMI charts as the absolute highest weight I can be for my height and be considered a "healthy" or "normal" weight. I've never aimed for anything lower than that because I've never been anywhere close to it in my adult life. The closest I've come - other than at the moment - was back in 2003, when I was ~170 pounds for my wedding. Even my wedding wasn't enough to get me to that magic number. (Wait - no negative talk here. 170 was still damn impressive considering that five years prior to that I was nearly 250 pounds.)
But this year, 158 is in sight. I know I can get there with a lot of hard work, sweat and willpower. I've come this far already, so I know I have the strength in me to do it.
In 2012, I'm going to make it to 158 pounds and officially be considered normal by BMI standards and insurance charts.
Which is probably the only time in my life I'll ever be considered normal in anything.
I stepped on the scale today, and the current number is 170, which is a number I'm already pleased with. Holiday indulging for the past three months only resulted in a four pound gain from my lowest weight - that's a win in my book. It tells me that the lessons I've learned from years of doing this are taking hold, and even indulging isn't the same as it used to be. I can have a piece of pie - or even two - and not spiral out of control into a free-for-all binge. All Charlie Sheen jokes aside, I'm winning at this.
New year, new me. I'm ready.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Hibernating & Indulging
This time of year is always hard when it comes to weight loss. It starts with Halloween and all of the trick-or-treat candy, then progresses into the Thanksgiving meal-o-plenty, and ends with a steady slide into decadent holiday baked goods and party foods. It's no wonder so many people start diets on New Year's Day - you need to detox from all of that excess!
My own weight loss has never been a steady line moving downwards. It's more like a series of hills, up and down, with smaller ups and greater downs. It takes longer than a straight line, but I can't argue with the method since despite the small gains each year I'm still 80 pounds lighter than my heaviest weight.
The last three months of the year are what I call my hibernation phase. This is when my workouts and eating habits slack off as I focus on the holidays and the end of the year. I exercise less because I want to spend more time with my family on holiday traditions. I generously partake of Halloween candy, and never miss a chance to fill up on party foods during the Christmas season. And yeah, I gain a few pounds back, too.
Halloween and Christmas are my two favorite holidays - completely restricting myself would only make me miserable. My #1 rule of weight loss is that this is a change for life - if I have to turn down brownies and pastries and cheese balls during the holidays for the rest of my life in order to be at a healthy weight, I can guarantee that I'll be overweight forever or be the most miserable skinny person you've ever met.
So I plan for it. I know I'm going to overeat and I go for the foods I enjoy the most. I try to offset these heavier meals with small, healthy meals or meal replacement shakes/bars (since there aren't holiday parties every day, right?) and I don't get too upset at seeing the scale inch up a little.
By the time I'm packing up the Christmas tree and taking down the last of the garlands, I'm usually sick of all of those rich foods and ready for something different. (Yes, it's true - you really can eat enough cookies to develop a temporary aversion to them!) January is a natural re-commitment to eating healthy and working out, both because I'm burned out on calorie-heavy foods, and it's now so cold I want to move more just to stay warm!
As for those few pounds I added at the end of the year? As long as it wasn't more than five pounds (and it rarely is), I shrug it off and consider the joy I had from the holidays worth the small gain.
So far, this plan has worked for me. I've lost anywhere from 10-20 pounds each year, and gained 5 at the end of the year. (This year it's only been 2 pounds gained so far, partially thanks to a stomach virus that swept thru last week.) I'm still coming out ahead, I'm happier, and by taking my weight loss slowly I'm improving the chances it'll stay off for good.
So if you're curious about what workouts or meal plans I'm following at the moment, you won't find anything here. I'm currently in hibernation, enjoying the holidays. Check back with me in January and you can bet I'll be working towards losing a little more of myself.
My own weight loss has never been a steady line moving downwards. It's more like a series of hills, up and down, with smaller ups and greater downs. It takes longer than a straight line, but I can't argue with the method since despite the small gains each year I'm still 80 pounds lighter than my heaviest weight.
The last three months of the year are what I call my hibernation phase. This is when my workouts and eating habits slack off as I focus on the holidays and the end of the year. I exercise less because I want to spend more time with my family on holiday traditions. I generously partake of Halloween candy, and never miss a chance to fill up on party foods during the Christmas season. And yeah, I gain a few pounds back, too.
Halloween and Christmas are my two favorite holidays - completely restricting myself would only make me miserable. My #1 rule of weight loss is that this is a change for life - if I have to turn down brownies and pastries and cheese balls during the holidays for the rest of my life in order to be at a healthy weight, I can guarantee that I'll be overweight forever or be the most miserable skinny person you've ever met.
So I plan for it. I know I'm going to overeat and I go for the foods I enjoy the most. I try to offset these heavier meals with small, healthy meals or meal replacement shakes/bars (since there aren't holiday parties every day, right?) and I don't get too upset at seeing the scale inch up a little.
By the time I'm packing up the Christmas tree and taking down the last of the garlands, I'm usually sick of all of those rich foods and ready for something different. (Yes, it's true - you really can eat enough cookies to develop a temporary aversion to them!) January is a natural re-commitment to eating healthy and working out, both because I'm burned out on calorie-heavy foods, and it's now so cold I want to move more just to stay warm!
As for those few pounds I added at the end of the year? As long as it wasn't more than five pounds (and it rarely is), I shrug it off and consider the joy I had from the holidays worth the small gain.
So far, this plan has worked for me. I've lost anywhere from 10-20 pounds each year, and gained 5 at the end of the year. (This year it's only been 2 pounds gained so far, partially thanks to a stomach virus that swept thru last week.) I'm still coming out ahead, I'm happier, and by taking my weight loss slowly I'm improving the chances it'll stay off for good.
So if you're curious about what workouts or meal plans I'm following at the moment, you won't find anything here. I'm currently in hibernation, enjoying the holidays. Check back with me in January and you can bet I'll be working towards losing a little more of myself.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Holiday Baking That Won't Add On Pounds
Hey everyone, be sure to visit Diets In Review this weekend! I'm sharing my best tips for making baked goods a little more healthy for the holidays.
Yes, it's true - you can still eat muffins, cookies and cakes and lose weight! And I promise your kids won't notice the difference.
Yes, it's true - you can still eat muffins, cookies and cakes and lose weight! And I promise your kids won't notice the difference.
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